Last edited 12/29/2023
Dr. Josie ValderramaLicensed Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
She/They
Accepting New Clients
In Person in San Francisco
Online in California
Identifies As
She/TheyGenderfluid WomanAsian (East/Southeast), FilipinoPansexual, QueerShamanismBIPOC, LGBTQIA+Neurodivergent, Living with ADHD, Living with Anxiety, Gen X, Immigrant / 1st Generation American
Get To Know Me
What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
*Please note: While I do not take insurance directly, I can provide a "superbill" for you to file a claim & sliding scale is also available based on need.*
I made the leap into the mental health field in my late thirties as a career transition. My goal was to learn how to unlock human potential - both in myself and in others. And I found that my heart opened up in this beautiful and unexpected way. I am humbled and elated by the opportunity to facilitate individuals on their hero's journey. I was also inspired to choose this profession due to a strong desire to be a beacon of hope and compassion. My own experiences of feeling invalidated as a therapy client during my 20s has helped inform my practice. It has served as a continual reminder of how precious, vulnerable and brave it is to engage in one's own therapy.
What would be important for someone to know about working with you?
My practice tends to work at the intersection of BIPOC, gender, sexual and relational diversity (GSRD) and neurodiversity. I believe compatibility between therapist and client is highly variable and based not just on shared reality of identifiers or approaches. But that it can simply boil down to personality. And so I encourage all therapy seekers to explore far and wide, do a number of consults, and keep trying until you find that optimal fit in your therapeutic alliance. Don't get psyched out - trust yourself!
In what ways have your personal experiences influenced your work with your clients?
Having experienced decades of self-imposed blocks around the things that mattered to me most, I have a lot of empathy for clients in similar positions. Thankfully, I found a connection to the wisdom I was seeking and was able to get unblocked and step into a more authentic version of myself, both in my outward accomplishments and inner development. As such, my array of first-hand experience and related insights help form the foundation of my role as therapist. Of course, my job is not to give advice or conflate my story with your own. But the struggles and victories I have experienced undoubtedly inform the process, and can deepen the empathic attunement between us.
In addition, experiencing microaggressions early on in grad school helped push me to network with others within gender, sexual and relational diversity (GSRD) communities. Eventually, we formed Bay Area Open Minds, which is now a 200+ strong organization of therapists allied to those practicing consensual non-monogamy, kink and the like.
Learn more about my:
Location
Online Therapy
Details of my office at 2489 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
Specialties
Specializes in
AnxietySexuality Based IssuesRace & Cultural IdentityArtists' mental healthPeak performance
General Expertise
DepressionRelationship IssuesLoss/GriefSelf-EsteemSocial AnxietyADHDAttachment issuesAutism spectrum disorderCodependencyCompulsive behaviorCreative blocks & writer's blockEating disordersGender identity & transgender healthLGBTQIA related issuesLife transitionsPerformance anxietyStressTraumaCoping SkillsNeurodiversity
Treatment Approaches
Mindfulness PracticesCulturally Sensitive TherapyExperiential TherapyFeminist TherapyInternal Family Systems TherapyMulticultural TherapyHypnotherapySomatic TherapyTranspersonal TherapyDialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness-Based Cognitive TherapyAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Neurodiversity-AffirmingCoachingCompassion-Focused TherapyExistential TherapyPositive Psychology
Clientele
Types of Therapy
Individual Therapy
Serves Ages
Young Adults (18-24)Adults (25-65)Seniors (65+)
Languages
English
Professional Background
LicensureCalifornia, Licensed Psychologist, PSY27913
Training/CertificationsSomatic Experiencing 2 modules. IFS. NLP Level 1. Neo-Ericksonian with Dr. Stephen Gilligan. Certified Shamanic Practitioner
Education
Alliant International University, Doctorate of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, 2014 — Dissertation investigated technology addiction, specifically smartphones. My research focused on creating and validating a novel measure of problematic smartphone use.
Occidental College, Bachelor of Arts, History, 1995 — Concentrations in Women's History and Early Modern Europe.
Work HistoryWhile I consider myself a liberation psychologist, much of my training took place within larger systems which, by their very nature, are imperfect and filled with hegemonic dysfunction. I trained for 3 years at a community mental health clinic within the San Francisco Department of Public Health, working alongside other psychologists as well as psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, social workers, counselors, marriage & family therapists, law enforcement and clerical staff. Clients included those with severe diagnoses, families, unhoused, and other at-risk and underserved populations.
In addition, I trained for a year at a Native American community mental health clinic. I had the privilege of interacting and assisting indigenous staff and clients through therapy, pow wow and ceremony, as well as organizational decolonization. I was also trained in Ericksonian hypnotherapy here.
My other clinical training took place at an assisted living facility for elders with a focus on dementia care.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s not uncommon to have questions before starting therapy.
Dr. Josie Valderrama, Licensed Psychologist, has answered a few of the questions they receive most often from new clients.
Is Josie Valderrama accepting new clients?
Yes, Josie Valderrama is accepting new clients for online therapy in California and in-person appointments at 2489 Mission St, Ste 10, San Francisco, CA, 94110.
Does Josie Valderrama accept insurance?
No, Josie Valderrama does not accept insurance.
What types of therapy does Josie Valderrama offer?
Josie Valderrama offers therapy for individuals.
Does Josie Valderrama offer in-person appointments?
Yes, Josie Valderrama offers in-person appointments at 2489 Mission St, Ste 10, San Francisco, CA, 94110.
Does Josie Valderrama offer online therapy?
Yes, Josie Valderrama offers online therapy via video sessions and phone sessions to people in California.
How quickly can I see Josie Valderrama?
Josie Valderrama typically can speak with new clients within 48 hours. You can see their current general office hours and request an appointment on their profile page.
What languages does Josie Valderrama speak?
Josie Valderrama conducts therapy sessions in English.
Can I book an appointment with Josie Valderrama online?
Yes, you can easily book an appointment with Josie Valderrama online using Choosing Therapy’s directory.
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